Students celebrate Union Day with array of activities

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

To honour the union of the seven emirates of the UAE, the students of Al Mawakeb School, Al Barsha, parents and staff gathered and celebrated the day with an array of activities reflecting the unity, history, culture and heritage.

The Union Day celebrations were like a carnival hosted by the school community and alumni, themed to showcase the nation’s heritage, tradition and folklore, alongside the bright future of the UAE.

The students were quite joyous to welcome the dignitaries including Dubai’s first woman police pilot from the UAE’s ruling family, Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Bin Mohammed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum who shared her inspiring journey with the students.

Famous Emirati singer Abdulla Bilkhair also attended the celebrations and joined the stage with young performers.

The carnival was attended by a large number of small and medium enterprises to showcase their innovative ideas and products to celebrate the national annual day of union.

The incredible presence of the Dubai Police was felt when the troops came in with luxury police cars, along with the Dubai Mounted Police team on horses and the Dubai K9 Dog Unit.

The others prominent government entities present were Emirates Airlines, DEWA, Cultural Departments of different emirates to enthral the students.

Rashid Centre: A group of students from Rashid Centre for the People of Determination performed a number of acts on stage and received huge applause. The students gifted the school a friendship Ghaf tree which was planted in the school grounds to mark the memorable occasion.

Moussa Chahbaz, Principal of Al Mawakeb School Al Barsha, expressed his pride in the nation and his gratitude to the families of the school community for hosting a beautiful tribute carnival. “This is one of the most beautiful celebrations of the year. We have been celebrating the UAE’s National Day for the past four decades. This ceremony brings together our entire school fraternity to join hands in harmony as we pay tribute to the UAE – the land of prosperity.

“In true spirit of the nation’s union, Al Mawakeb also welcomes a multitude of cultures and societies to join our school and make it a thriving community. Over the last 52 years the nation has grown to make its incredible mark on the world map with its striking infrastructure, fast-growing economy and endless possibilities for the future. On behalf of the school, I would like to take this opportunity to salute the efforts of the leadership of the UAE who invest in the country and its residents’ wellbeing, happiness and safety,” he said.

However, the students and visitors showed keen interest in the attractions which included a heritage village, which was constructed like an old fishing village, taking visitors back to the days of pearl diving.

Displays of old groceries, traditional bakeries and henna stations livened up the traditions of years gone by.

A special tent where visitors could experience the Military Service themselves was another unforgettable section of the national carnival.

The art station had students and guests exploring local arts and crafts. Showcasing the future was a vibrant exhibition of robotics, astronomy and our country’s efforts towards sustainability.

The day was full of entertainment and games, complete with brilliant stage performances of the school orchestra and choir, as well as folk dances and traditional competitions which all ended with a big raffle draw.

With 2023 being deemed as the Year of Sustainability, a clear emphasis was seen on highlighting the importance sustainable practices. Not only were some of the sections made entirely with recycled household items, there was a depiction of sustainable living throughout the event with an element of fun to engage the audience.

An incredible art gallery was also set up to display students’ artworks themed on COP28, which is proudly being held in the UAE this year.

“It was indeed a glorious event that truly paid its tribute to a country on behalf of the student community who are the future of the nation,” he said.